Cedar Rapids man convicted of selling heroin that caused two overdoses  

CEDAR RAPIDS — A dealer who sold heroin which caused a user to overdose and nearly die pleaded guilty Monday in federal court.

Marcus DeJohn Wallace, 19, of Cedar Rapids, was convicted of distribution of heroin resulting in serious bodily injury.

During the plea hearing, Wallace admitted he distributed $50 of heroin to a person on Feb. 24 in the parking lot of a business on Edgewood Road, and that person took the heroin to a nearby car where he shared with it another. Both individuals used the heroin and immediately overdosed and lost consciousness.

The driver of the car slumped forward, hitting the steering wheel and horn, which a passer-by heard and then called 911 when they saw two unconscious people inside the car.

When paramedics arrived, the passenger was able to be revived without medical aid, according to court documents. The driver's head was hanging down, his skin was blue and he was having trouble breathing. The driver was unresponsive until paramedics repositioned his head to open the airway.

Wallace in court admitted that without medical help, the driver was at a substantial risk of anoxic brain injury and death as a result of using the heroin he distributed. The other charge of distributing heroin within 1,000 feet of a school was dismissed as part of the plea agreement.

According to court documents, later that same day after the two overdoses, Cedar Rapids police officers conducted a controlled buy of a heroin/fentanyl mix from Wallace. The bag of tan, rock-like substance the confidential informant purchased was sent to the lab for testing. The .18 grams contained heroin, fentanyl, and diphenhydramine (Benadryl).

Wallace faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison and up to life and a $1 million fine. Sentencing hasn't been set.